This Incredible Alzheimer's Drug Could Naturally Regenerate Teeth

Fillings could be a thing of the past.

Got a cavity? Instead of filling it, your dentist might someday help you regenerate that tooth more naturally, thanks to a recent discovery.

Scientists have discovered that a drug normally used to treat Alzheimer's naturally regenerates teeth.

Medical XPress reported that scientists were able to use the drug Tideglusib to repair tooth decay in mice by stimulating the stem cells that are found in the tooth to rebuild its tissue.

Anyone who has ever had a cavity knows that fillings aren't permanent fixes. They can crack, chip, or break off completely which means another trip to the dentist. Furthermore, the fillings don't actually heal tooth decay. If this new method could be used by dentists, it could be a more permanent solution.

Professor Paul Sharpe, the lead author of the study, explained in a statement published in Nature, "The simplicity of our approach makes it ideal as a clinical dental product for the natural treatment of large cavities, by providing both pulp protection and restoring dentine [the layer of the tooth under the enamel.] In addition, using a drug that has already been tested in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease provides a real opportunity to get this dental treatment quickly into clinics."